Ever wondered why some homes are burgled while others are ignored?

We wish we could give you a definitive answer to the question, but here are some useful suggestions to make you more secure in your own home, in no particular order:

• Have an alarm fitted. An alarm does not make your property impervious from an invasion, but it is a great deterrent to the casual thief. If you do have an alarm already fitted, consider when it was last upgraded. Sensor technology has improved hugely over the last 10 or even 5 years, so do consider an upgrade to your system. Having an alarm is all well and good, but only if you use it. Remember to switch it on when going out or going to bed, learn how to programme your house into zones and make use of the “stay” function.
• It is does not mean that criminals will not gain entry when alarms are activated but it certainly reduces the probability for entry and potential damage to the property. It also appears that in some of the cases of attempts where the alarm was activated in an attempted entry, the alarm had no outside indicator lights.
• Reliable statistics indicate that in 84% of the recent incidents, the premises were not fitted with an armed system, or the alarm was not set.  
• Fit burglar bars on all the windows, particularly windows in remote rooms, no matter how small the opening. These also double up as additional protection against our furry friends.
• Fit PIR sensors on outside lights that come on if movement is detected. The shock of being seen will put most burglars off.
• Please don’t put your belongings on display for all to see. Not everyone is a fan of curtains, but they can play an important role in the security of your home. Not drawing your curtains and having lights on at night, displaying your high value technical items for all to see, will make your property a target.  Additionally, don’t place valuables next to open doors or windows as they can easily be taken.
• A dog, or two, is also a great way of alerting you about the presence of unwanted intruders.
• Metal shutters are a great way of providing security as they combine the function of the burglar bar with the functionality of the curtain when used.
• Cameras, particularly IR ones, are an excellent way of protecting oneself if linked to an alarm system and offer the option of remote viewing when away.
• Stand Alone Outdoor Beams offer an automatic wireless outdoor intruder detection security system using passive infrared sensor beams that detect movement up to 20 meters. Placed strategically around your property and working in unison with your cameras offers another layer of protection.
• Locking doors and windows is a must for the security-conscience homeowner, so remember to do so.
• Please avoid discussing crime incidents on public platforms. Sharing information can help criminals exploit the data to their advantage. In addition, the recent increase in crime appears to have a correlation with an increase in social media posts. Data shared in these posts are not always accurate nor has the data been verified.
• It is remarkable that when collating data on crimes in Pringle Bay how one or more of the above factors continue to contribute to why one home was targeted over another.
• Please also note, of the nineteen confirmed crime incidents this year, sixteen of the homes had no alarms or had not set their alarms.